Electric lamp socket



1936- J. FlGUElRA ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET 2 ShetsPSheet 1 Filed Feb. 9,

Oct. 20, 1936. J. FIG'UEIRA 2,058,009

ELECT-RIG LAMP SOCKET z I if I M 7 4 INVENTOR- Patented Oct. 20, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET,

Application February 9, 1933, Serial No. 655,876

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an arrangement of elements whereby an electriclamp socket can be securelyvmounted on a support or in a canopy in sucha manner that it can be readily removed and replaced.

In carrying out this invention standard parts can be used withoutrequiring the addition of a large number of other parts or the use ofanything more than a small number of other very simple elements that areeconomically manufactured and conveniently installed.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a vertical section throughan illustrative embodiment of the invention taken along the line I--Iofv Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a section similar to Fig. 1 but taken at rightangles thereto and with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a section along theline 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end view of a lamp socket showing someof the details; Fig. 5 is a similar view with the lamp socket removed;Figs. 6 and '7 are views similar to Fig. 2 at right angles to each othershowing a modification; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of'thedetails and Fig. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings reference character I indicates a canopy of a well knownsort that may be fastened to a wall or ceiling or other support by meansof. screws, or in any other convenient way so that its rim I is held infirm contact with the support. The lamp shade 2 is indicated as beingattached to the canopy I by means of the screws 3.,

Reference character 4 indicates the shell of a switch socket of theusual sort with the cap removed. The sleeve of insulating material inthe shell 4 is indicated at 5 (Fig. 3) and the ordinary screw shell isindicated at 6 for the lamp bulb I.

An annular internal flange 8 is provided inside the canopy I upon whichthe lamp socket is supported. An opening 9 is provided in the side ofthe canopy I through which opening the pull chain Ill for operating theswitch mechanism in the socket extends.

The parts thus far described are old and well known in this art, but themanner of. assembling the parts heretofore has been inconvenient,unsatisfactory and expensive.

By the present invention the usual cap into which the shell 4 is snappedis dispensed with and a member I2 is attached to the shell in a mannersimilar to the way the usual cap has heretofore been attached to theshell with the ends of the struck out out metal lugs 4' resting upon theupper side of the member I2. This member I2 is preferably in the shapeof a washer having serrations I3 (Fig, 5) along the edge of the openingtherethrough corresponding to the corrugations usually provided attheupper end of electric light socket shells. Means are provided on themember I2 to hold the usual switch mechanism in the shell 4 when thisshell has been snapped into this member, and this member I2 is alsoprovided with means for securing the same to the flange 8 of the canopyI or other support. An extension I4 is provided along the inner edge ofthe opening through the member I2 to enter the key slot or p the slotfor the pull chain horn that is usually provided in the shell 4, inorder to prevent the shell 4 turning in the'member I2. The shell 4can'be snapped into the member I2 and removed therefrom in the same wayas is usually done with caps for the shell.

For the purpose of limiting the extent to which the shell 4 can bepushed through the opening in the member I2 to cause the same to snaptherein in a manner similar to the way the shell snaps into the usualcap, a plurality of extensions I5 are provided along the upper side ofthe member I2 adjacent the opening through this member. Four extensionsI5 are illustrated on the drawings, although the number may be varied,and the upper end of each member is turned inwardly, as indicated at I6.A washer I! of insulating material is interposed between the end of theshell 4 and switch mechanism therein and the bent in ends I6 so that thebent ends I6 not only limit the extent to which the shell 4 can bepassed into the hole in the member I2, but also prevent the switchmechanism in the shell 4 from being pushed out of its upper end. Anopening I8 is provided in the washer I! through which the 7 electricwires may be passed to be connected to the binding posts 20 in the usualmanner.

Spring arms I9 are provided along opposite sides of. the member I2 andextend downwardly. The lower ends of the arms I9 are turned inwardly, asshown at 2!], and are provided with screw threaded holes. Screws 2Iextend through the holes in the inturned ends 2!]. Slots 22corresponding to the arms I9 are provided in the flange 8 to accommodatethe screws 2|.

The socket may be attached to the canopy I in the following manner. Themember I2 is placed upon the shell 4 into the position where the shellsnaps into place and the member I2 performs the function of the usualcap in keeping the switch mechanism in the shell. The screws 2| arebacked ofi a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the flange8 and the shell 4 is passed through the opening in the flange 8 fromabove with the chain In passing through the opening 9. The shell 4 ispassed through the opening 8 at a slight angle so that the head of oneof the screws passes below the flange B with this screw in proximity toone of the slots 22. The shell 4 is then moved horizontally to causethis screw to enter its slot and the opposite spring arm I9 is thensprung in radially so that the head 2l of the other screw passes belowthe flange 8 and then this screw enters its slot when the spring arm I 9is released. The two screws 20 are then tightened, thus keeping theparts securely assembled. The canopy is then attached to its support.The socket can be readily removed by reversing the operation.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8, and 9 a threaded pipe 25 isshown extending from a wall or ceiling, this being the usual pipethrough which house wires are brought to a fixture. A U-shaped support26 is held on the pipe 25 by means of the threaded collar 21. Struck-outtongues or lugs 28 are provided on the outer sides of the arms of thesupport 26 and these lugs preferably slope upwardly.

A washer shaped member 30 (Figs. 8 and 9) is applied to the shell 4 in amanner similar to that already described for the member l2. The member30 is provided with a lug 3| which extends into the key slot of theshell 4 and its end bears against the horn of the pull chain IE! to keepthe switch mechanism in place and to keep it from turning in the shell4.

Extensions 32 are provided on opposite sides of the member 3!] andtongues 33 are struck downwardly with their ends adapted to catch overthe lugs 28 on the holder 26.

A nut 34 with a flange 35 to bear against the flange B of the member Iis screwed upon the screw threads 36 of the shell 4, thus keeping thecanopy l in place against the wall or ceiling.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 9 the support 26 is attached tothe pipe 25, the shell 4 is snapped into the member 30 and this memberis placed upon the support 26 with the arms of this support extendingthrough the Spaces between the tongues 33 and the sides of the shell.The tongues 33 snap over the lugs 28 during this operation until theshell is in the proper position. The canopy l is then put in place andthe nut 34 screwed on the shell 4 to hold the parts securely in positionwithout danger of the same becoming loose or rattling.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell havingcut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal flange on said support,and a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, said member havingspring arms attaching said socket to said flange.

2. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell havingcut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal, slotted flange on saidsupport, and a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, saidmember having spring arms attaching said socket to said flange at saidslots.

3. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell havingcut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal, slotted flange on saidsupport, a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, said memberhaving spring arms connecting said socket to said flange, and screwspassing through said arms and slots in said flange substantiallyparallel to the axis of said socket.

4. In a device of the character described, a lamp socket shell havingcut metal lugs thereon, a support, an internal, slotted flange on saidsupport, a member snapped onto said socket over said lugs, said memberhaving spring arms connecting said socket to said flange, and screwspassing through said arms and slots in said flange substantiallyparallel to the axis of said socket, said screws having heads of greaterdiameters than the widths of said slots.

JOSEPH FIGUEIRA.

